Rail-joint



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

WILLIAM F. ASH, OF OSAGE MISSION, KANSAS.

RAIL-JOINT.`

SPECIFICATION forming lpart of Letters Patent No. 225,266, dated March 9, 1880.

' Application flied December 23, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. ASH, 0f Osage Mission, in the county of Neosho and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like letters ot' reference.

This invention relates to railroad-rail joints; and it consists in an improved construction and arrangement of parts, whereby threaded ,bolts and nuts are dispensed with, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the annexed drawings, A A represent the ends of two adjoining rails, and B B the fish-plates. The latter, as well as the rail ends, are provided with perforations to admit the bolts O O, which are not threaded, but provided near the ends with transverse slots D.

K is a plate, of iron or other metal, which passes through the slots D in bolts C, as shown, it being provided with notches G G, one for each bolt, which enable the said plate, after its insertion through slots D, to be moved outward, after'which, the sides of the notches catching upon the sides of the bolts, it is prevented from moving laterally.

The narrow space between the rear edge of plate K and the fish-plate is filled by awedgeshaped plate, P, which, when driven in tight, secures the plate K rmly and locks the bolts in position. 4

The rear edge of plate K is provided with a series of notches, I I, and the front edge of plate l? has one or more similar notches, J. When the latter plate has been driven home two of said notches should register, to admit of the insertion of a key, R, which may be an ordinary wrought nail, by which displacement of the plates K P, by the jarring caused by rolling-stock passing over the track, or from the old-fashioned bolt-and-nut joints a-re wholly avoided.

I am aware of the patent to S. Vanstone, March 11, 1873, No. 136,683, and I claim nothing therein shown.

I am also aware that a'fastening for railchairs consisting of beveled keys or wedges provided upon their adjoining sides with'several notches, two of which may be made to register and receive a fastening-key, is not new, such being shown in the patent to Nicklin, No. 95,928, October 19, 1869.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- As an improvement in rail-joints, the combination of the rails A A, fish-plates B B, bolts O O, having transverse slots D D, plate K, having notches G G II, wedge-shaped plate P, having notch J, and the key It, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and'specilied. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` WILLIAM F. ASH.

Witnesses z M. DEVINE, JAMEs Oos'rELLo. 

